Apparatus for generating fuel fumes



Nov. 29, 1932. c, Q, 52 1,889,619

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FUEL FUMES Filed July 15. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l50 f4 IZ 4f W i 4? I 49 fl 4 45 /I 2? 7/ E f 71 f I H a f 39 7 [a 9/ 4/46 72 mvzufoa. 9 Charles [1 EIIDE 45 I r ATTORNEYS.

i 4/ (0 u mi Nov. 29, 1932. c, o, osz 1,889,619

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FUEL FUME'S Filed July 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee 2FIG. 4.

. ll '-IIIIIIllllIflllllllllllllllllllln INVENTOR.

Charles D. Em: 52

ATTORN EYS.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 PATENT OFFICE CH'A'LRLES' o. GROSZ, orWILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FUEL FUMESApplication filed m 15, 1930. Serial No. 468,177.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for making andutilizing gasoline fumes. p D

The primary object of this invention is the 5 provision of improvedapparatus for the efficient utilization of gasoline fumes and vapors forthe purpose of operating an internal combustion engine, such asinstalled 1n autovbiles; the improved device embodying means 0 for theeconomical andefiicient generatlon of the fumes or vapors and theefiicientfeedlng thereof to an internal combustion engine. 7

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved meansfor supplying 5 fuel to an automobile engine embodying .a cooperativearrangement bymeans Of'WlllOh the engine may be initially started bymeans of fuel fed through a conventional carburetor in conventionalmanner; the fumes thereafter 0 being shunted direct from the maingasoline tank of the automobile wherein they are generated, for anefficient engine operation and the securement of maximum mileage pergallon of gasoline consumption.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improvedapparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combust on engine in suchmanner that the engine Wlll be substantially free of carbon; operate forthe production of maximum mileage on min mum consumption of gasoline,and eliminate the liability of leakage of fuel liquids into the crankcase oils.

35 Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein simi- 0 lar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partlydiagrammatic, showing the cooperative relation in which the improvedfume generating $5 and feeding apparatus is operatively associated withconventional features of automobile power'plantequipment.

Figure 2 is an enlargedflsectional view taken substantially on the line22 of Figure :50 1, through the fume generating tank, which Figure 9 isa view, partly in section, of the carburetor adjacent the engine.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate character, whereon the engine B is operatively mounted as apart thereof, being connected with the usual vacuum fuel feed system C.The improved fume generating apparatus D an automobile of any isoperatively connected with a carburetor E of the engine, and includes agasoline main tank. F, with which the vacuum tank 10 of the system C isoperatively connected and a backfire check and venting valve H interofthe apparatus D. v

In the cooperative arrangement of the fuel feed system with the fumefeed system, the carburetor E has connection with both of said systems.Thus, as shown in Figures 1 and 9 of the drawings the carburetor E hasan intake connection 15, leading, of course, to the cylinders of theengine. It is provided with a conventional needle valve 16 which may beoperatively controlled from the in strument board of the automobile A,by means ofa suitable shaft 18 having a control handle 19 thereon; itbeing connected by the usual universal connection 21 with the outer endof the needle valve. Rotation of the shaft 18 permits the adjustment ofthe needle valve with respect to the inlet opening 20 through which thefuel is sprayed. The carburetor has its air inlet connection 23operatively connected with the apparatus D for receivposed between thecarburetor E and the end i ing fumes from the tank F. The carburetor Ehas operative connection at 27 with the vacuum fuel feed tank 10, whichhas its usual suction connection 28, and the line 29 connected with thetank F for the withdrawal of gasoline liquid therefrom. The connection27 leads to the float chamber 30 in the lower part of the carburetor,wherein the gasoline or liquid fuel is received in a conventionalrelation.

It is the purpose of the invention to initially operate the engine B inthe usual manner, by opening the needle valve 16, for the withdrawal ofgasoline from the chamber 30. After the engine B has been operating asuf ficient length of time, to prevent stalling, and the heated exhaustgases are discharging through the exhaust manifold 35, and are heatingthe gasoline vapors and liquid in the tank F, the needle valve 16 isclosed through manipulation of the shaft 18, and thereafter the fumesare supplied to the engine B through the carburetor chamber, but theengine is not receiving the fuel supply from the chamber 30 of thecarburetor, as is quite apparent.

Referring more particularly to the details of construction of theapparatus D, the tank F is of unusual construction, consisting of a topwall side walls 41 and 42 and a bottom wall 43 which slopes from the endwalls 45 and 46 and the side walls 41 and 42 towards the center theslope being downwardly towards a drain opening 47, shown in the drawingsthe lower end of which has a drain exit cap 48 thereon for draining thetank chamber 49 of gasoline and any sediment which may collect therein.The tankF is'provided with a false bottom 50, which is connected byupwardly extending convergent side and end walls with the side and endwalls of the tank F, as shown in the draw ings; and defining a heatingcompartment 62 in the lower portion of the tank F between the bottoms 43and 50, through which the exhaust gases pass for the purpose of heatingthe gasoline in the chamber 49. It is to be noted that the bottom 43 isextended along the sides and ends thereof, as at 66; being connectedwith the side and end sloping walls and defining above the extension 66dead air spaces 67 between the portions of the walls 60 with the sideand end walls of the tank F, which tends to insulate the liquid fuel inthe chamber 49. It must be borne in mind that the system is particularlywell adapted for the generation of gasoline fumes in extremely coldclimates, although its utility is not limited thereto. The exhaustmanifold 35 has an exhaust conduit 70 extending therefrom rearwardlyalong the vehicle, and enters a muflier 71. The discharge end of amuffler 71 is connected by means of a conduit 72 with one end of thecompartment 62, as shown at 74 in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The opposite end of the tank has an exhaust gas conduit 7 5 connectedtherewith and turned rearwardly, as shown in Figure 1, thru which theexhaust gases pass into the atmosphere after passing through the broadbut shallow compartment 62.

The top Wall 40 of the tank F has a fume conduit 7 6 connected therewithand leading forwardly for connection with the check and venting valve H;the latter being connected with the intake 23 of the carburetor E. The

conduit 76 is thoroughly insulated, as by asbestos wrapping the samethrough the entire length thereof, and it must be remembered that thefumes should be maintained warm or heated from the time that they leavethe tank F until they pass through the carburetor E and into the intake15. his asbestos wrapping is generally designated at 77 in Figure 4 ofthe drawings. The con neotion 76 in the top Wall 40 is at the center ofthe top wall 40.-

The baffle arrangement is provided in the tank compartment 49 betweenthe top and bottom walls 40-and 43 thereof, to sub-divide thecompartment 49 into an upper fume receiving compartment 49 and a lowergasoline liquid storage compartment 49 the baffle arrangement being sorelated that the liquid will not splash into the fume receivingcompartment 49 and so that during filling of the tank F the liquid mayenter through the filler connection 80 in the top wall of the tank, andpass through the compartment 49* quickly into the storage compartment49".

The baflle arrangement comprises an intermediate baflie 82, which ispreferably flat. Its shape is best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings;the corners 83 being cut away to provide corner openings in the tank Fcommunicating the upper compartment 49 with the lower compartment 49, ina manner which is perfectly apparent. In closely spaced relation aboveand below the intermediate baffle 82 there are disposed similarly shapedcentrally sloping upper and lower baffles 86 and 87, which are of theconstruction shown in Figure 5. That is, each of the same slopesdownwardly from the end and side edges thereof towards a relativelylarge central opening 88 which centrally faces an imperforate centralpart of the intermediate ballie 82. The baflies 86, 82 and 87 areclosely spaced, and the course of the fumes are first through theopening 88 of the lower bailie 87 and then into the space between thebaffles 82 and 87, spreading laterally and longitudinally along the tankF, and passing upwardly through the corner openings 83 at the corners ofthe intermediate baffle 82, and thence into the space between the upperbaffle 86 and thebaflie 82; centrally converging through the opening 88in the upper baflie 86, and then entering the fume compartment 49, and

of course passing therefrom into the conduit It should be noted that theexhaust gas outlet 75 has a passageway that is larger than thepassageway of the exhaust gas inlet fuel 839,242 filed February 11,1929. In the' present apparatus'I provide a horizontally inclinedsubstantially U-shaped pipe, comprising upper and lower preferablystraight conduits 90 and 91; the former being disposed near the upperpart of the compart ment 49 just spaced below the to'pwall 40 of thetank F, and the latter conduit 91 being disposed in the heatingco1npartment 62. They are relatively connected by means of a verticalconduit 92 extending through the floor 43 of the gas tank and upwardlythrough the baffle plates in the compartment 49, as shown in Figure 2.The horizontal conduits 90 and 91 may be straight or curved, as desired,and in the preferred instance they are located close to one of the walls41 or 42; preferably the former, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.The ends of the conduits 90 and 91 extend externally of the tank throughan end wall thereof opposite their relative connection 92, and they areexternally screw threaded for the selective reception of a closure cap95,

which may be placed on either, for a purpose which will be subsequentlymentioned. The conduits 90, 91 and 92 have apassageway therein which isof uniform diameter throughout the length of said conduits. The upperconduit 90 is provided with downwardly extending fume suction pipes 97and 98, preferably but two in number, which communicate with the conduit90 and extend downwardly through the bafile plates and at their lowerends being open and spaced just above the floor 43 of the tank F, and ofcourse opening in the compartment 49 for the discharge of air into thegasoline to enable the genera tion of gasoline fumes. The conduits 97and 98 are materially smaller in diameter than the conduits 90 and 92with which they are connected.

In cold weather the cap 95 is disposed on the outer end of the upperconduit 90, and the operation after the engine B has been operating fora time is to shut off the needle valve 16 in the carburetor. The heatedexhaust gases passing through the chamber 62 will heat the gasoline inthe lower portion of the tank F, above the bottom wall 43, to a notdangerous temperature, which may readily'be controlled, as can beunderstood by varying the size of the discharge opening por-laden withgasoline; being baflied between the baflleplates above described; thefumes entering the compartment 49*, from which they are withdrawn alongthe line 76 intothe upper part of the carburetor and into the intake ina manner which is quite apparent.

In event the atmospheric temperature war rants, the cap 95 may be placedon the externalend of the lower conduit 91, and in this case the airenters the conduit 90 directly and passes into the gasoline liquidthrough Ell e conduits 97 and 98 without any great The back-fire checkand venting valve comprises a frusto-conical casing 100, connected at101 with the air intake 23 0f the carburetor. At its larger end it isconnected al- 102 with the conduit 76 above described.

A spider 104 is mounted in the smaller end of the casing 100, andreciprocably supports a horizontal valve stem 106 whereon a valve disc107 is provided; being spring urged at 108 against the opening to thecheck valve chamber 109; and normally closing off communication of thefume intake conduit 76 with the'chamber 109, as can be understoodfrom'Figure 8. The valve casing is provided with a vent opening 110,having a closure 112 which acts thereon as a valve, preventing theescape of fumes during normal engine operation. Should a back-fire occurthe valve 107 will be sharply closed, preventing back-firing into thefume compartments of the tank F, and the pressures will exhaust throughthe vent opening 110, in a manner which is quite apparent.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: I 1. In combination an internal combustion engine having anintake and a conventional needle valve control carburetor connectedtherewith provided with an air intake, means for closing the needlevalve to shut off nortion of fuel fumes,'means connectin the gasolmetank with the normal air mtalre of the carburetor for feed of gasolinefumes from the gasoline tank to said air intake and means connected withsaid engine for transmittal of hot exhaust gases from the said engine,through said gasoline tank.

2. In combination an internal combustion engine having an intake and aconventional needle valve control carburetor connected therewithprovided with an air intake, means for closing the needle valve to shutoff normal fuel feed to the engine intake through the carburetor, agasoline tank, means for feeding air through the gasoline tank for theproduction of fuel fumes, means connecting the gasoline tank with thenormal air intake of the carburetor for feed of gasoline fumes from thegasoline tank to said air intake, said engine having means connectedtherewith for transmittal of exhaust gases into heat exchange relationwith the fuel supply in the gasoline tank.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine and a conventionalvacuum fuel feed system therefor including a main fuel tank, acarburetor having a needle control Valve and a vacuum tank forwithdrawing fuel from the main fuel tank and discharging it into thecarburetor, means to shut off normal fuel supply from the vacuum tankthrough the carburetor to the engine, means asociated with the fuel tankfor generating fuel fumes therein and passing them into the air intakeof the carburetor, and means for directing the hot exhaust gasesfromsaid engine thru and out of said fuel tank.

4. I11 combination with an internal combustion engine and a conventionalvacuum fuel feed system therefor including a main fuel tank, acarburetor having a needle control valve and a vacuum tank forwithdrawing fuel from the main fuel tank and discharging it into thecarburetor, means to shut off normal fuel supply through the carburetor-to the engine, means associated with the fuel tank for generating fuelfumes therein and passing them into the air intake of the carburetor,and means for directing the heated exhaust gases from the engine intoheat ex change relation with the fuel tank and its contents.

5. In an automobile powerplant equipment the combination of an internalcombustion liquid within said tank to enable the generation of fumesincluding a conduit passing compartment therein with bafiie means sub--dividing the same into an :upper fume compartment and-a lower liquidfuel storage compartment, means below the normal bottom of the tankproviding a heating chamber, means for heating said chamber to heat thecontents" of the lower compartment wherein the volatile liquid isstored,-an air intake and exhaust conduit in the heating compartmenthaving an external atmospheric opening, an air intake and exhaustconduit in the upper fume compartment having an external air intakeopening, means connecting said conduit at ends thereof remote from theirexternal air intakes, closure means for selectively scaling the airintake opening of either of said conduits, and conduit means connectedwith the upper conduit in the fume compartment ex tending downwardlyinto the normal body of liquid fuel in. the lower compartment of saidtank and opening therein for discharge of air into the liquid and meansfor withdrawal of fumes from the top of the fume compartment.

CHARLES O. GROSZ.

